PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE FACULTY

Carole James Carole James served as Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier of from 2017 to 2020, Leader of the Official Opposition from 2005-2010, and Member of the Legislature for Victoria Beacon Hill from 2005-2020.

She has been recognized for her work and leadership through her many elected appointments, locally, provincially, and nationally, serving in elected roles for over 25 years.

Ms. James was Director of Child Care Policy in the government of BC, Director for Child and Family Services at Carrier Sekani Family Services, and Coordinator for Northern Aboriginal Authority for Families. Her public service has included National Democratic Institute Election Missions in Morocco, Algeria, and Georgia.

Active in her community, she was Chair of the School Board, President of the BC School Trustees Association, and First and Second Vice President of the Canadian School Boards Association.

Ms. James is an honourary life member of the Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association and the B.C. School Trustees Association and served as a foster parent for over 20 years for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Since retiring from elected politics in Dec 2020, Ms. James continues her commitment to public service, serving as a board member on the Royal BC Museum Board, a board member for INBC Investment Corporation, and as a member of the Government of Canada Task Force on Women in the Economy.

Dana Hayden

Dana is Chair of the Board of Partnerships B.C. and a Director on the Boards of TimberWest and Mosaic Forest Management where she also chairs the Safety, Health & Stewardship Committees. She is a Director on the Capital Regional District Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project Board, and a Director of the BC Parks Foundation. Dana also serves on the SFU Beedie School of Business Advisory Committee, the Fraser Basin Council Sustainability Solutions Fund Advisory Committee, and the Institute of Corporate Directors Victoria Executive. Dana provides consulting services to a variety of public and private corporations related to strategic and business planning, natural resource development, social license, government processes, public infrastructure development and governance.

Dana served in the British Columbia public sector for 30 years during which she held 6 Deputy Minister positions in natural resource and economic portfolios and in the Office of the Premier and was also President & CEO of the BC Pavilion Corporation, Destination BC and the BC Lottery Corporation.

PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE FACULTY

Dana has a B.Sc. in Forest Science, a M.Sc. in Natural Resource Economics, and is a Chartered Director (C. Dir). Dana was inducted into Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women Hall of Fame in 2016, is a Diversity 50 awardee, and received the Vancouver Influential Women in Business award in 2014.

Ruth Wittenberg

Ruth Wittenberg was appointed President of the BC Association of Institutes + Universities in January 2010. This Association represents a group of public post-secondary institutions that offer a range of post-secondary education, ranging from trades and technical training to masters degrees in specialty areas. The role of the President is to provide counsel to members on strategies and approaches to government to represent members points of view on policy, legislation, or other actions; coordinate research and develop information material to support members views, or as a response to government requests; forecast and evaluate the effects of public policy on members and keep them informed of developments Ms. Wittenberg has a BA from the University of Victoria (1979).

Prior to her current position, Ms. Wittenberg was employed by the British Columbia Public Service from 1981 until she assumed the role of the BC Association of Institutes + Universities President. Ms. Wittenberg has held positions in the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (Assistant Deputy Minister, Post Secondary Education Division), Ministry of Education (Assistant Deputy Minister, Management Services Division), the Ministry of Human Resources (Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial and Administrative Services), the Ministry of Finance (Chief Information Officer), the Ministry of Transportation (Manager, Financial Systems and Policy), and at Treasury Board Staff (analyst).In addition to her current role at BCAIU, Ms. Wittenberg is a member of the Law Society of BC Hearing Panel pool, and a member of the BC Assessment Authority Board.

Jim Rutkowski

With more than two decades experience in communications, public policy, and government relations, Jim Rutkowski has a unique breadth of expertise and insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Jim has served in a variety of senior political roles including Chief of Staff to BC Opposition Leader, now Finance Minister, Carole James and Principal Secretary to Premier, Rachel Notley. Jim has also worked extensively in government relations sector in British Columbia.

Over his career, Jim has developed a deep appreciation of how governments approach decisions and how best to constructively engage decision makers, particularly when it comes to successfully navigating the complexities of British Columbia's political landscape. He has also overseen the development and execution of major and impactful communications and public relations campaigns across a wide range of issues.